193 



N. neglecta. — At sugar, September 3rcl, 6th, 9th, and 12th. 



X. cH/raan, silago and mtrago. — At sugar, September 7th to 1 6th. 



C. xerampelina. — At sugar, September 16th. 



H. rostrali-. — Common at sugar, September. 



H. aloiHngalis. — At sugar, September 3id. 



During the sumoier insects were certainly unusually scarce, the diminution 

 was not so much in the number of species as in that of individuals. There was, 

 however, apparently no falHng ofiF in the autumn species. Catocala nupta was 

 very abundant. — A. H. Clarke, 18, Kensington Park Gardens. 



NOTES ON COLLECTING, MANAGEMENT, Ac, (LEPIDOPTEBA). 

 BT H. G. KCfAGGS, M.D. 



THE CATERPILLAR STATE. 



"Thus are my blossoms blasted in the bud, 

 "And caterpillars eat my leaves away." 



Shakespeare. 



" • ' 



COLLECTING. ' 



With the exception of a few special manoenvres, larva collecting may be divided 

 under three chief headings — searching — beating — and sweeping, which I now pro- 

 ceed to discuss in order. 



Searching. — The only apparatus required for this purpose will be a goodly 

 stock of boxes, either chip ones strengthened,* or tin with perforated lids ; the 

 disadvantage of the former being their comparative want of security, and the food- 

 diying nature of their material ; of the latter, their tendency to cause the contained 

 larvae to, what is commonly termed, sweat ; of these evils the collector must judge 

 for himself which is the least, on the whole perhaps chip will suit Noctuae best, tins 

 the Geometrae ; he will also require two or three large tin boxes, holding half-a-pint 

 or so ; a hooked stick, and a pocket-knife (or pair of scissors) will also be found 

 most useful ; and a botanist's collecting box would enable him to bring home a 

 plentiful supply of fresh food, though the ordinary chimney-pot hat of daily wear 

 answers very well for the purpose and saves the extra burden. 



Thus equipped, the larva-hunter having selected his locality,t may proceed to 

 work. 



Indications of the presence of larvaa. These are numerous, and the col- 

 lector will do well to keep an eye to them. 



* It is very annoying to find that some good insect has been smashed or liberated, from the box 

 having collapsed under pressure or come to pieces from damp. The following appears to be the simplest, 

 neatest, and most effectual way of rendering chip and pill boxes secure : — Cut strips of calico in a di- 

 rection diagonal to the texture of the material (" on the cross," as it is termed), of about half-an-inch 

 in width, and of the length of the circumference of the boxes to be operated on. Brush over one of 

 these strips with shoemakers' paste (best for tlie purpose,) and apply round the lid at the line where the 

 two pieces of wood which form it are united, gently pulling the strip at the same time so that stretching 

 in its middle line it will adapt itself to the angular surface; then smooth down the calico on to the top 

 and down the sides, and if the operation has been neatly conducted, it will he found that a smooth flUet, 

 firnaily encasing the angular joint of the lid, has been formed. Prepare the bottom in the same manner. 



+ See foot note (No. 3) to page 66. 



